Threats, bribes and stuffed ballot boxes: the reality of elections in Africa

Updated 1052 GMT (1852 HKT) September 23, 2016

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

Gabon – This summer has seen a number of closely contested elections across Africa. In Gabon, the national election in August sparked post election protests outside the parliament building in Libreville after sitting president Ali Bongo won by less than 6000 votes -- a result highly contested by the opposition.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

Gabon – The results, released August 31, show that Bongo won 49.8% of the vote, while Jean Ping, the opposition leader, had 48.23%. Ping and his supporters say the numbers are fraudulent and demand a recount. This sparked protests in France too. Pictured here, a woman waves a Gabonese flag during a demonstration in Paris in September.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

Gabon – The unrest resulted in deadly violence, arrests and media black outs. Here,a man traditionally dressed with banana leaves joins mourners paying their respects at an altar for those who died.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

Zambia – Zambians also went to the polls in August for their general elections. Pictured here, a Zambian woman casts her ballot at a polling station in a school.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

Zambia – The results were contested by the opposition who filed a petition in the country's constitutional court claiming the vote was rigged. Pictured here, a woman casts her vote in the capital, Lusaka, on August 11.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

Zambia – The presidential candidate Edgar Lungu of Zambia's ruling party Patriotic Front waves to the crowd as he arrives to cast his ballot on the day of the election. He was sworn in earlier this month for another five years.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

South Africa – In South Africa, the opposition party the Democratic Alliance won a number of new districts in this year's local elections including Nelson Mandela Bay and Johannesburg.

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Photos:The reality of elections in Africa

South Africa – The election saw the African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled the country since the end of apartheid, suffer significant losses in votes, prompting them to form a coalition. Nationally, the ANC garnered 53.9% of the vote. The Democratic Alliance got almost 27% while the distant third-placed Economic Freedom Fighters' party had 8.2%.